Team GB sparked baby boom, says Mayor

The true legacy of the Olympics is a London baby boom, says Boris Johnson.

The number of births in the capital this year will be about 137,000 — almost 3,000 more than in 2012, the Mayor revealed.

He said such a surge in births had not been seen since England’s 1966 World Cup win and attributed the rise to the “euphoria” sparked by Team GB’s medal haul.

Official figures show there were 133,111 births in 2010, 132,843 in 2011 and 134,186 last year. Mr Johnson predicted a two per cent rise on 2012.

“That tells us we’ve got an Olympic baby boom legacy,” said the father of five. “I said to the team ‘you’ve caused such paroxysms of joy on the sofas of Britain that you’ve not only inspired a generation, you probably helped to create one as well’. And when you look at the demographics of what’s happening in London’s maternity wards, it turns out to be broadly true.”

Research also revealed today that — unlike other mass sporting events — the London Olympics were not responsible for an increase in alcohol-related illnesses.

Public Health England said fears hospitals would be over-run during the Games were averted

by targeting the sale and advertising of alcohol and putting health services on standby for an influx of drunks.

The Centre for Public Health said that this was the first in-depth study on the impact of a big UK sports occasion.